The Regional Forum on the International Year of Camelids and Sustainable Livestock Transformation in Africa, co-organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the African Union Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), will take place from 10 to 12 June 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Themed “Sustainable livestock systems; food security; improved livelihoods; and One Health,” the forum aims to raise awareness of the critical role of sustainable livestock systems and dromedary camels in food security, nutrition, resilience, and economic development across Africa.
Participants will explore national and regional policies, showcase successful initiatives, foster investment opportunities, and advance the Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Livestock Transformation.
An exhibition dedicated to the International Year of Camelids will also run alongside the event, featuring innovations, traditional knowledge, and experience from camel-keeping communities.
Watch the live webcast
Agenda
| DAY 1 | 10 June 2025 | ||
| Time | Topics | Speakers | |
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Opening ceremony Moderators: Badi Besbes (Chief, NSA, FAO) and Nyabenyi Tito Tipo (FAO Representative a.i., Kenya) | ||
| 09:00 – 09:10 | Opening remarks | Abebe Haile-Gabriel, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, FAO | |
| 09:10 – 09:20 | Opening remarks | H.E. Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy, and Sustainable Environment, African Union (TBC) | |
| 09:20 – 09:30 | Opening statement | Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Kenya (TBC) | |
| 09:30 – 10:00 | Coffee break and group photo | ||
| 10:00 – 12:30 | High-level session 1: Sustainable livestock transformation in Africa Moderators: Mohammed Shamsuddin (FAO) and Katinka de Balogh (FAO) | ||
| 10:00 – 10:15 | Keynote address: FAO’s Sustainable livestock transformation framework and investment opportunities | Thanawat Tiensin, Assistant Director-General and Director of the Animal Production and Health Division, FAO | |
| 10:15 – 10:30 | Keynote address: Initiatives, strategies and frameworks for Sustainable Livestock Transformation in Africa | Huyam Salih, Director, AU-IBAR | |
| 10:30 – 11:30 | High-level panel discussion: National policies and investments for sustainable livestock transformation Facilitated discussion with panellists and forum participants. • Abraham Boliki Bokota, Director of Cabinet, Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, Democratic Republic of the Congo • Colonel Mahamane Elhadj Ousman, Minister, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, Niger • Fikru Regassa, State Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Development Sector, Ethiopia (online) • Jonathan Mueke, Principal Secretary, State Department for Livestock Development, Kenya (TBC) | ||
| 11:30 – 12:30 | High-level panel discussion: Regional priorities, frameworks and actions for sustainable livestock transformation Facilitated discussion with panellists and forum participants. • Alain Sy Traore, Director, Agriculture and Rural Development, ECOWAS (TBC) • Appolinaire Djikeng, Director-General, ILRI • Baschirou Moussa Demsa, ECCAS • David Balikowa, Senior Livestock Officer, East African Community Secretariat • Providence Mavubi, Director, Industry and Agriculture, COMESA (online) | ||
| 12:30 – 13:00 | Official inauguration of the exhibition on the International Year of Camelids Moderator: Giacomo de’ Besi • Abebe Haile-Gabriel, Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for Africa, FAO | ||
| DAY 1 | 10 June 2025 | ||
| Time | Topics | Speakers | |
| 13:00 – 14:00 | Lunch | ||
| 14:00 – 15:30 | High-level session 2: Advancing dromedary camel development in Africa Moderators: Huyam Salih (AU-IBAR) and Ameha Sibsibe | ||
| 14:00 – 14:15 | Keynote address: Camel development – Importance of camels, challenges and solutions | Wamalwa Kinyanjui, Animal Health Expert, IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development | |
| 14:15 – 14:30 | Keynote address: The legacy of the International Year of Camelids in Africa | Bernard Faye, Emeritus Scientist, French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development | |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | High-level panel discussion: Unlocking the potential of dromedary camels in Africa Facilitated discussion with panellists and forum participants. • • Adan Mohamed Ali, Deputy Minister of Livestock, Forestry and Rangelands, Somalia • • Bekele Magersa, Professor, Addis Ababa University • • Ousmane Yoskoye Sougoumi, Secretary General of the Ministry of Livestock and Animal Production, Chad | ||
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Coffee Break | ||
| 16:00 – 17:30 | Thematic session 1: Sustainable livestock transformation for improved livelihoods, food security and nutrition, and enhanced resilience (part 1) | ||
| 16:00 – 17:30 | Sub-session 1.1: Improved livelihoods, and food security and nutrition Moderator: Lionel Gbaguidi (FAO) and Mary Mbole-Kariuki (AU-IBAR) | ||
| 16:00 – 16:10 | Introductory speech: The state of food security and nutrition in Africa: A focus on livestock | Mphumuzi Sukati, Senior Food and Nutrition Officer, FAO | |
| 16:10 – 16:20 | Introductory speech: Employment and inclusive economic growth | Isabelle Baltenweck, Program Leader: People, Policies and Institutions, ILRI | |
| 16:20 – 16:30 | Case study: The role of camel milk production in nutrition and socio-economic development in Somalia | Mohamed Saney Dalmar, Director General, Ministry of Livestock, Forestry and Range of the Federal Government, Somalia | |
| 16:30 – 17:30 | High-level panel discussion: Current initiatives and opportunities for scaling impact on livelihoods, and food and nutrition security Facilitated discussion with panellists and forum participants. • • James Wabacha, Animal Health Expert, AU-IBAR • • Kahsay Negash, Director of the Animal and Plant Production Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Eritrea • • Khalif Abey, Technical Advisor, Kenya Camel Association • • Ricarda Mondry, Livestock Development Officer, FAO | ||
| 18:00 – 19:00 | Side event: FAO’s support for animal health and One Health: Strengthening Africa’s agrifood systems | ||
| 19:00 – 20:00 | Reception | ||
| DAY 2 | 11 June 2025 | ||
| Time | Topics | Speakers | |
| 09:00 – 10:30 | Thematic session 1: Sustainable livestock transformation for improved livelihoods, food security and nutrition, and enhanced resilience (part 2) | ||
| 09:00 – 10:30 | Sub-session 1.2: Enhanced resilience Moderator: Cyril Ferrand (FAO) and Ahmed Elbeltagy (AU-IBAR) | ||
| 09:00 – 09:15 | Introductory speech: Building resilience through livestock | Cyril Ferrand, Senior Agricultural Officer, FAO | |
| 09:15 – 09:30 | Case study: The role of camels in enhancing resilience in pastoralist communities in Niger | Wouro Habsatou Aboubacar, Habsou Lait de Chamelle, Niger | |
| 09:30 – 10:30 | Panel discussion: Current initiatives and opportunities for scaling impact on resilience Facilitated discussion with panellists and forum participants • • Diba Wako, Regional Livestock Programme Director, Mercy Corps • • Gilles Vias, Regional Director West Africa, VSF-Belgium • • Owen Sibiya, Agricultural Economist, Ministry of Agriculture, Eswatini • • Tumal Orto, Camel producer, North-Kenya Resilience Initiative • • Wamalwa Kinyanjui, Animal Health Expert, IGAD | ||
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee break | ||
| 11:00 – 12:30 | Thematic session 2: One Health in agrifood-livestock systems for food and health security in Africa Moderator: Charles Bebay (FAO) and Hung Nguyen (ILRI) | ||
| 11:00 – 11:10 | Introductory speech: Strengthening One Health governance and coordination mechanisms | Mohammed Shamsuddin, Senior Animal Health and Production Officer, FAO | |
| 11:10 – 11:20 | Introductory speech: Pandemic fund: An opportunity to strengthen national and regional health systems | Priya Basu, Executive Head, Pandemic Fund (TBC) | |
| 11:20 – 11:30 | Introductory speech: FAO’s livestock projects in Africa – insights, lessons learned and way forward. | Katinka de Balogh, One Health Specialist, FAO | |
| 11:30 – 11:40 | Introductory speech: Improving community animal health systems in Africa | Charles Bebay, Regional Manager, FAO | |
| 11:40 – 12:40 | Panel discussion: Current initiatives and opportunities for scaling impact Facilitated discussion with panellists and forum participants. • Bouzabo Patchili, RAHC Manager, ECCAS • Mary Mbole-Kariuki, Lead, AU-One Health Data Alliance Africa, AU-IBAR • Musa Mohammed Inuwa, Chief Veterinary Officer, Ministry of Livestock Development, Nigeria • Ndong Micha Gabriel Martin Esono, Secrétaire Exécutif Adjoint, CEBEVIRHA/CEMAC • Néo Mapitse, Sub-Regional Representative for Eastern Africa, WOAH | ||
| 12:40 – 14:00 | Lunch | ||
| DAY 2 | 11 June 2025 | ||
| Time | Topics | Speakers | |
| 14:00 – 17:30 | Thematic session 3: Sustainable natural resource use, climate change, and biodiversity | ||
| 14:00 – 15:30 | Sub-session 3.1: Climate change mitigation and adaptation Moderator: Iain Wright (AU-IBAR) and James Wabacha (AU-IBAR) | ||
| 14:00 – 14:15 | Case study: Food Systems Integrated Programme (FSIP) of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) | Hernán González, Coordinator, FSIP GEF, FAO | |
| 14:15 – 14:30 | Case study: Climate change adaptation – West Africa | Enaderfé Mohamed Elmoctar, Secretary for Organizational Affairs, Réseau des peuples pasteurs du Sahel | |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | Panel discussion: Current initiatives, investments and opportunities for scaling impact on climate change mitigation and adaptation Facilitated discussion with panellists and forum participants. • Beeharry Pitambarsing, Officer in Charge, Assistant Director, Livestock and Veterinary, Ministry of Agro Industry & Food Security, Blue Fisheries economy, Mauritius • Bernard Kimoro, Head of climate change and livestock sustainability, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Kenya • Charles Odhong, Country Technical Analyst – Livestock, IFAD • Hernán González, Coordinator, FSIP GEF, FAO • Levis Kavagi, Regional Coordinator, Ecosystems and Biodiversity, UNEP | ||
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Coffee break | ||
| 16:00 – 17:30 | Sub-session 3.2: Rangeland and pastureland management Moderator: Guyo Roba (ICPALD) and Benjamin Mutambukah (Eastern and Southern Africa Pastoral Network) | ||
| 16:00 – 16:15 | Introductory speech: Strengthening community pastures and water bodies governance to ensure sustainability and avoid conflicts | Japheth Kasimbu, Transhumance expert, IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development | |
| 16:15 – 16:30 | Introductory speech: Ecological roles and ecosystem services of camels | Piers Simpkin, Camel expert, Kenya | |
| 16:30 – 17:30 | Panel discussion: Current initiatives and opportunities for scaling impact on rangeland and pastureland management Facilitated discussion with panellists and forum participants. • Benjamin Mutambukah, Coordinator, Eastern and Southern Africa Pastoral Network • David Maina, Feed and Fodder Business Development Expert, AU-IBAR • Jonas Asare Berchie, Director, Animal Production Directorate, Ghana • Nah Ouattara, Director of Livestock, Ministry of Animal and Fishery Resources, Ivory Coast | ||
| 18:00 – 19:00 | Enhancing farm animal welfare as part of One Health action to curb antimicrobial resistance | ||
| DAY 3 | 12 June 2025 | ||
| Time | Topics | Speakers | |
| 09:00 – 15:15 | Thematic session 4: Enabling environment for camel development and sustainable livestock transformation | ||
| 09:00 – 10:30 | Sub-session 4.1: The Global Plan of Action for Sustainable Livestock Transformation Moderator: Badi Besbes | ||
| 09:00 – 09:30 | Introductory speech: Draft Global Plan of Action (GPA) | Marialía Lucio-Restrepo, Secretariat, COAG Sub-Committee on Livestock, FAO | |
| 09:30 – 10:30 | Discussion on the GPA | ||
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Coffee break | ||
| 11:00 – 12:30 | Sub-session 4.2: National and regional policies Moderator: Marco Sanchez Cantillo (FAO) and Mary Mbole-Kariuki (AU-IBAR) | ||
| 11:00 – 11:15 | Introductory speech: How do the current policies and African regional trade support the development of the livestock sector? | Diana Akullo, Principal Officer, African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat (online) | |
| 11:15 – 11:30 | Case study: Do current policies and regulatory frameworks properly cover the camel sub-sector in West Africa? | Anassou Alhassane, Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS) | |
| 11:30 – 12:30 | Panel discussion Facilitated discussion with panellists and forum participants. • • Dodo Boureima, President, Reseau Billital Maroobe • • Joel Mamabolo, Director, Animal Production, Department of Agriculture, South Africa • • Marco Sanchez Cantillo, Deputy Director, Agrifood Economics and Policy Division, FAO | ||
| 12:30 – 14:00 | Lunch | ||
| 14:00 – 15:15 | Sub-Session 4.3: Future Investments Moderator: Mohammed Shamsuddin (FAO) and Frank Berthe (World Bank) | ||
| 14:00 – 14:15 | Introductory speech: Investment opportunities and mechanisms for better agrifood-livestock sector in Africa | Simplice Nouala Fonkou, Senior Animal Production and Health Officer, West and Central Africa Service, FAO | |
| 14:15 – 15:15 | Facilitated discussion with forum participants and Q&A | ||
| 15:15 – 15:30 | Closing | ||
| 15:15 – 15:30 | Closing remarks | FAO and AU-IBAR | |
Facilitator: Yuqin Peng (FAO)
Source : FAO, 2025
